Alduin
Basic Info
	2355
	50
Stamina	80
Spells/Abilities	Fire Breath Frost Breath Unrelenting Force Dragon Fireball shout Dragon Tail: staggers opponents Meteor Storm
	4
Resistance	50% to all damage sources
Ref ID	00032DB7
Base ID	00032B94
Sound

"You do not even know our tongue, do you? Such arrogance, to dare take for yourself the name of Dovah!"

―Alduin^[src]

Alduin (also called the World Eater, the Nordic God of Destruction, and in Dragon language), is a dragon whose return was a result of an Elder Scroll. He was first removed from Tamriel through the last resort of the ancient Nord heroes who used an Elder Scroll to force Alduin to become lost in time and hopefully never return. Instead, he was sent forward to the Fourth Era, to the timeline of events in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the Dragonborn's story. Alduin's triumph would ensure Nirn's destruction.

Identity

Comparisons with Akatosh

Scholars speculate that Alduin is the Nordic name attributed to Akatosh. ^[1][2] One source states that Alduin and Akatosh are very different deities entirely.^[3] Because Akatosh's invocation appears as Dragon, he is attributed as their "father". Playing off this, Alduin proclaimed himself as the "First-Born of Akatosh!"^{[note 1]}

According to Paarthurnax, Alduin's peers considered him the most acclaimed creation of Akatosh. Alduin basked in arrogance at these accolades. In favor of conquering Mundus for himself and his fellow dragons, he forsook his "proper role" as World-Eater.^[4] Additionally, Akatosh is considered the chief deity of the Nine Divines pantheon; Alduin, on the other hand, is not the chief deity of the Nordic pantheon. This title is reserved for Shor, God of the Underworld, who reigns of Sovngarde.^[1]

Deification

Admired for his ferocity and feared for his power, Alduin served as a point of worship to Ancient Nordic people. Superficially, Alduin represents the anti-pantheon of the Nine Divines, figures of creation and love. Embodying their counterpart, Alduin is depicted as a ravaging firestorm that destroyed the last world to begin the current, one who promises to herald the apocalypse or total annihilation of it again. ^[1]

Places of worship

• Skuldafn
• Volskygge
• High Gate Ruins
• Ragnvald
• Labrynthian
• Forelhost
• Valthume
• Shearpoint

Legend

Prophecy

The prophecy of Alduin is foretold on Alduin's Wall, located at Sky Haven Temple, the last refuge of the Blades. The wall prophesies civil unrest after the murder of the High King of Skyrim as well as the destruction of Tamriel.

The prophecy foretells that Alduin summons with him the vanquished souls of the Nordic people to invade Skyrim, the vanquished souls taking on the forms of ferocious dragons.

Dragonborn

It is said that only a Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) can defeat the enraged god Alduin by harnessing the power of the dragon in the form of dragon shouts to ultimately destroy him in one final battle of titanic proportions, restoring peace to the land of Skyrim and Tamriel at large. The vanquished souls that Alduin brought with him, however, shall always remain in the realm of the living as a constant threat to the sons of Skyrim. He calls himself the first-born of Akatosh, which would mean he is actually separate from Akatosh, but still Alduin's Death related to him. He feels it is his birthright to dominate the world with his dragons.

History

Alduin was the first dragon among many that ruled over men and mer. The dragons viewed humanity as a lesser species, and kept a tyrannical hold on mankind, but soon, in an event known as The Dragon War, men stood up to their dragon overlords, and learned how to use the Voice (Dragon Language). On the Throat of the World, Alduin was defeated, but not killed. Instead, with an Elder Scroll, Alduin was sent forth in time, albeit unintentionally, and would not return until the 201st year of the Fourth Era.

After the Delphine, the last of the Blades discovered the Dragonborn of the Fourth Era, she helped them discover from Paarthurnax that the key to Alduin's defeat was the Dragonrend shout. Septimus Signus, an expert on Elder Scrolls, helped the Dragonborn locate an Elder Scroll in Alftand, which the Dragonborn used atop the Throat of the World to view the memory of Alduin's initial defeat. Attracted by the power of the scroll, Alduin appeared at the site. Together with Paarthanax and the their followers, the Dragonborn weakened Alduin, who eventually fled the battle.

The Dragonborn finally kills Alduin in Sovngarde with three other heroes of Sovngarde, Hakon One-Eye, Felldir the Old, and Gormlaith Golden-Hilt. Thus, Alduin is banished from the world forever.

Dragon language

Cinematic

• "Meyye! Tahrodiis aanne! Him hinde pah liiv! Zu'u hin daan!" ― "Fools! Treacherous ones! Your hopes all wither! I am your doom".
• "Nivahriin joorre!" ... "Tahrodiis Paarthurnax!" ― "Cowardly mortals!" ... "Treacherous Paarthurnax!"

Miscellaneous

• "Zu'u Alduin. Zok sahrot do naan ko Lein!" ― "I am Alduin. Most mighty of any in the World!"
• "Pahlok joorre! Hin kah fen kos bonaar!" ― "Arrogant mortals! Your pride will be humbled."
• "Nust wo ni qiilaan fen kos duaan." ― "Those who (do) not bow will be devoured."
• "Dovahkiin, hin kah fen kos bonaar." ― "Dragonborn, your pride will be humbled."
• "Zu'u unslaad, zu'u nis oblaan!" ― "I am immortal, I cannot die!"
• "Zu'u lost kriaan hi ont, nu hin sille fen nahkip suleyki." — "I've killed you once, now your souls will feed my power."
• "Di kiirre fen alok." ― "My children will arise."
• "Kel drey ni viik." ― "The Elder Scroll did not defeat (me)."
• "Zu'u lost daal." ― "I have returned."
• "Fen du hin sille ko Sovngarde!" ― "(I) Will devour your souls in Sovngarde"
• "Daar Lein los dii." ― "This World is mine"
• "Sahloknir, krii daar joorre." - "Sahloknir, kill the mortals."

Trivia

• Alduin is voiced by Daniel Riordan. ^[5]
• His name means "Destroyer Devour Master".
• When defeated in Sovngarde, unlike other Dragons, Alduin's soul cannot be absorbed. When Paathurnax and Arngeir are questioned about the anomaly, they theorize that Alduin is not permanently dead and will return to fulfill the prophecy of the Elder Scrolls.
• He can be seen near any of the burial mounds of Dragons just before they're resurrected. Also, he may mention the dragons name.
• Alduin only refers to the "Dovakiin" by name when he attacks Helgen and immediately after the "Alduin's Bane" quest.
• When Alduin is defeated in Sovngarde, his jagged scales will fall off and fly in random directions, revealing his skin beneath them.
• While wearing full Daedric or full Dragonplate or Dragonscale armor, he may say "Even the Daedra fear me!" (with the Deadric set) and "The Dovah are weak!" (wearing the Dragonplate set). Both are said outside of the Dragon Language and only during the battle on the Throat of the World.
• When using the Dismay shout on him, he remarks with, "Ha! You think I'll run away Dovakiin?"
• While wielding a Blades Sword, Alduin may say, "You wield the weapon of my ancient foes, but you are still not their equal."

Gallery

Alduin hovering around Helgen.

Destroying Helgen.

Alduin against a wall.

Alduin vs. Archer

Concept art of Alduin attacking with a shout.

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Mentioned only) ^[1]
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (First appearance)

Footnotes

1. ↑ During the quest "Alduin's Bane", Alduin tells the Dragonborn, "I am Alduin! First born of Akatosh!". The statement cannot be taken literally; anyone can claim they are a deity or born of a deity. Additionally, in a brief dialogue possibility with M'aiq the Liar, he states, "Some say Alduin is Akatosh, some say M'aiq is a liar. Don't believe any of these things." which sheds more light on the assertion.

References